Harpoon gun



Sept. 12, 1950 A. c. RIDLAND HARPOON GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1947 mmmlmml A4 EXANDEP C. P/DmA/D, IN VEN TOR.

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Sept. 12, 1950 A. c. RIDLAND 2,522,060

' HARPOON GUN Filed Jan. 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A4 emu/05p C. 2/01. AND.

I N V EN TOR.

HARPOON GUN s sheets-sheet 3 Filed Jan. 20, 1947 1 a D 4. i 2; N a ,1, a M M m M H Mm DH I M 5 J /N ,u 5 P 4 V C I 5" h I H P V I 1 M E M V. D M 4 y u N a m A w W V H L a a A M Miu/ Patented Sept. 1 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 2,522,060 HARPOON GUN Alexander 0. Ridland, Los Angeles County, Calif. Application January 20, 1947; Serial No. 723,160

My invention relates in its broadest aspect to a gun and is embodied herein for the purpose of illustration in a gun adapted to propel a projectile under water. My invention also relates to a new and improved binding plate, particularly adapted for use as a trigger and re-' leasing mechanism.

Underwater fishing is becoming an increasingly important and well-liked sport. The objectis for the sportsman to swim under water and propel a harpoon or spear at any desirable sea life encountered under the surface. The propelling means is usually by hand. I have provided a new and improved gun for propelling such projectile under water with a greater degree of force and accuracy than canbe accomplished by hand.

In connection with improved underwater gun, I have provided a new and novel means for holding the spear or harpoon in a tensioned position. The means employed in my invention comprises essentially a binding, plate which binds or holds the shaft of the spear in position until released by a trigger. Binding plates are well fknownbut aresubject to one deficiency; namely theibinding edges between the binding vplate and the shaft present a line contact. and

binding, presents a fiatsurface of considerable area againstthe shaft upon which it is binding and will not, therefore, tend to biteinto, or dull the edges of the binding plate.

It is to be understood that new and improved binding plate may beused in practically any application of a binding plate principle, and by discussing the use of the binding plate in connection with the holding and trigger mechanism of my gun, I do no thereby intend to limit the application of my invention. 7

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become" apparent from the drawings and the specifications attached thereto.

In'the drawings: :Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a gun embodying the principles of my invention having a harpoon inserted therein in tensioned position.

2 Claims. (or 124- 22) Figure 2 is aside elevation of the gun illustrated in Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the gun m trated' inFigm- 1 1 -w Figure 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the details of construction.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a means for releasing the harpoon line from the gun.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view, in section, showing the details of my improved binding plate.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of the releasing mechanism shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing the modified form of a binding plate to be used as a trigger mechanism.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing a modified form of shaft.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view show.- ing a modified form of shaft and tensioning means.

My invention in its more important features comprises a barrel 20, a handle 2! attached to said barrel, a trigger releasing mechanism 22' have illustrated herein comprises a tubular member having a longitudinally disposed bore 3! adapted to receive the shaft 23 of the spear and end pieces 32 and 33. The end piece 32 is formed with two parallel sides 32a and 32b, as shown in Figure 3, and has a width less than the inside diameter of thebore 3| and two oppositely disposed arcuate sides having substantially parallel chords and whose radius of curvature is equal to the outside diameter of the barrel 20 and is adapted to fit into notches 34 and 35 in the barrel 20. The end piece 32 is also formed with a centrally disposed aperture 36 adapted to receive the shaft 23- of the spear or harpoon. The end piece 32 is secured in the barrel 20 by any suitable means, such as welding or cementing.

The end piece 33 is formed with a centrallydisposed boss 31 and a centrally disposed bore 38 longitudinally aligned with the axis of. the barrel 20 and the bore 36 of end piece 32, and is adapted as a tubular member having the end pieces 32 and 33 secured thereto, I would consider any other shape which has a longitudinally disposedbore for receiving the shaft 23 or which has a front and rear member which act as guides for the shaft 23, as the equivalent of the preferred embodiment herein described.

The cylindrical member 30 is also formed with a transverse notch 40, a longitudinal notch 4|, and a plurality of apertures 42, the purpose of which will be discussed later.

If it is desired for the purpose of attaining accuracy in using the gun, a fin, such as 43, may be welded or cemented longitudinally on top of the barrel 20. The fin s3 acts as a sighting mem-- ber and can assume any decorative shape without departing from my invention..

"projectile comprise a plurality of tension mem- The handle 2| may assume, any desiredshape which is comfortable as a pistol grip and is formed with a hole 35 passing through the lower. end of the handle 2i adapted to receive a cord (not shown)v to secure the gun to the wrists. of the sportsman using it, so that it will not become lost in the event that it is dropped. The handle 2! is also formed with a concave-top adapted to, be secured to the underside of the. barrelv by. any suitable means, such as bolting, welding, cementing, etc.

The trigger mechanism 22 comprisesa binding plate 50.1 formed with a centrally disposed bore-5l and. a trigger or releasing lever. 52 attached thereto by any suitable means, such as welding. As will be seen more clearly. in Figure '7, the top edge of the binding plate is adapted to be disposed in the transverse slot 40. The forward,- edge of the transverse slot as acts as a. shoulder orstop or pivot point for the plate. 5.0. Any movement to the left of the shaft 23, in Figure '7. tends to rotate the plate 59in a clockwise direction, thereby changing the vertical projection of the bore 5| to-an ellipse whose minor diameter is less than the diameter of the shaft 23, thereby securely binding the shaft 23 against any further movement to the left.

It will be noted in Figure 10, wherein I. have illustrated standard binding plate, that due to the thickness of the material used to: make the binding plate, the tilting or rotating action here.- tofore describedresults in a binding between the shaft 23 and sharp edges 54 and55; Thesessharp edgestend to gougeinto the shaft 23 or become flattened depending on the relative strength. of materials used.

In order to overcome this objection, it will be: noted in Figure 7 that I have provided.- an im proved type of binding. plate wherein. the edges 56,and.51, which are adjacent the minor diameter of, the bore'5iv upon rotation have beenofiset in opposite directions so that upon rotation and binding they present. substantially flat surfaces in binding engagementmwiththe shaft 23.

A. further modification, may be made in shaft 23 in order to overcome the difiiculty ofa standard type binding, plate. The means herein illus,-- trated comprise a plurality ofnotches 58 cut in. the shaft 23 so that the binding action, atleast of the top portion of the binding plate 50a, presents a substantially flat surface to the shaft 23. There is, however, a tendency to flatten the edge 55.. even in this modification. However, the flattening of the edge 55 is not nearly so serious as that shown in Figure 10. because the tolerances required for binding action are not nearly so crit.-, ical as shown in Figure 10.

The longitudinal notch M is formed longer than isnecessary for a complete travelof the. l

bers 6B and are illustrated herein as rubber shock cords formed with a loop GI and 62 on each end.

Theforward end' of the shock cord 60 is held in position in the barrel of the gun by means of a bolt 83 disposed through the loop 6|. The loops 62 are adapted to receive hook 64 of a yoke 65. A notch 66 of any suitable shape is cut in the end of the shaft 23 and is-adaptedto receive the yoke 65. It willthusreadilybe seen. that when the shaft 23 is inserted into the. gun and. forced to. the right in engagement with the yoke 65,.the tension cord 6i), will. be stretched, thereby being put intension. Any. attempt. tomove theshaft 23 to the left results in a binding. with the binding plate 50. The shaft can, therefore, not be. released from the. gun. until the binding plate 50. has been released by moving the trigger. assembly 22 in a counter-clockwise.direction, suchas would be accomplished by pulling the trigger 52.. Upon releasing the binding plate 50, the tensioncords 60 contract withv considerable force. and propel V the shaft 23 out of thegun. It. is apparent that upon contracting in length, the tension cord 60 will expand in diameter. Some. means. must, therefore, be provided topermit the rapid expulsion of water out of, the chamber, or bore 3| This is accomplished by means of the holes 42.

In any type ofispear fishing, and particularly in underwater spear. fishing some means must be provided for retrieving the. spear, particularly when that spear has become lodged in some underwater sea life. I have accomplished this objective by meansof a cord 10 attached on one end of the head of the shaft 23 and coiled on its other end about-a rotatable spool! l'.

Therotatable spool H isrotatably' secured'between two braces 12 and 13; which are-secured to and depend from the barrel 20 in parallel relation.

The depending parallel braces 12' and 13' are formed with complementary holes 14' adapted toreceive pinions 15 and arcuate camsurfaces 16- concentric with the hole 14.. The pinions are adapted to fit into a central bore through the cen-- ter: of; the. spool. H. in rotatable; relation. I The pinions l5v are part of anintegral. piece which. comprises a: substantially U-shaped wire frame having substantial spring qualities. The end of the U: is formed in a \L-shape perpendicular torthe: surface of the U, and is adapted to receive as a; guide, the string 10*. The. purpose of. the wire.- frame 11. is. as follows: If during the hunting operation, the harpoon' becomes lodged insomeimmovable. underwater obstruction and it be-.- comes necessary for the sportsman tube-able. to riseto the surface. without. taking, the necessary time to releasethe-gunifrom-his wrist,;. this may; bev accomplished; by holding; the. gun. so that the string 111- is in. tension and by. rotating thegun clockwise with respect to the. string Hi; The;

string 10 .moves'the,- frame: 11 in, a. counter-clockwise direction with respect to theflun'and causes:

the upper end of the U to ride on the cam surfaces 16, thereby spreading th pinion l5 and releasing the spool H. The spool l I, being preferably made of a buoyant material, will float to the surface where it can be retrieved along with the spear at the convenience of the sportsman.

Whereas, I prefer placing the inclined surface on the cam, such as shown in Figure 6, I would consider the modification shown. in Figure 9, wherein the frame II is bent obliquely inward adjacent the point where it becomes the pinion 15. It will readily be seen that a counter-clockwise movement of the frame will cause the pinion to move outwardly and drop the spool H.

Whereas, the form preferred by me, as heretofore described, may be said to be in the form of a pistol, the principle of my invention may be adapted to what might be known as a rifle, shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 shows only the modification necessary to adapt my invention to a rifle form of gun. It is apparent that if the tensioning means are attached to the end of the shaft, as is shown in Figure 4, the trigger assembly would be too far forward for a rifle type of construction. I have provided, therefore, the modification shown in Figure 12. It comprises a modified shaft 80 having a reduced end portion Bl defining an annular shoulder 82. The tension cords 88 are attached to a plate 84 having a central bore 85 adapted to receive the reduced end portion BI and engage the annular shoulder 82. The trigger mechanism, referred hereto generally as 86, is adapted to securely engage the reduced end portion 8 l. The trigger mechanism in this modification is the same as has been heretofore described. 7

It will thus be seen that I have provided a modification wherein the trigger assembly may be placed relatively near the back end of the barrel for a modified rifle type construction.

It will also be readily apparent that my invention is not limited to a single barrel such as is illustrated herein. A double or multiple barrel gun can readily be produced by placing two of the single barrels side by side on one handle.

Whereas, I have herein shown and described my invention in its preferred form and in some modifled forms, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices. 1

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A harpoon gun comprising a cylindrical barrel having a stationary guide member disposed at each end of said cylindrical barrel, each of said guide members being formed with an aperture therethrough in axial alignment with each other, said apertures being adapted to receive and guide a harpoon shaft, resilient means disposed in said barrel and extending rearwardly thereof adapted to engage the end of said harpoon shaft to impart energy thereto, a pivotally mounted binding plate disposed intermediate the end of said barrel having an aperture therethrough in axial alignment with said guide apertures, said binding plate being movable between forward and back pivotal positions, said plate being adapted to frictionally engage said harpoon shaft to restrain said shaft from forward longitudinal movement when said plate is in said forward position and to release and guide said harpoon shaft when in said back position and trigger means associated with said plate extending outwardly from said barrel adapted to cause pivotal movement of said binding plate from said forward to said back position.

2. A harpoon gun comprising a cylindrical barrel having a front and a rear guide one of which is disposed at each end thereof, each of said guides being formed with an aperture in axial alignment adapted to receive the shaft of a harpoon to be propelled from said harpoon gun, a pair of parallel spaced elastic bands secured adjacent said front guide inside said cylindrical barrel and extending outwardly past the rear guide adapted to abut against the end of said harpoon shaft upon insertion through said guide, and a trigger and guide assembly adapted to releasably hold said harpoon shaft against said elastic bands and to guide said shaft upon releasing said trigger mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted plate disposed inter mediate the end of said barrel having an aperture therethrough in axial alignment with said end guide apertures and having forward and rear pivotal positions, said plate being adapted to frictionally engage said harpoon shaft in its forward position to restrain said shaft against said elastic bands and being adapted to guide said shaft when moved to its rear position.

ALEXANDER C. RIDLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

